The Ultima 6 Project: German Compendium and English Cluebook Complete, German and English Prologues Available Too. German Translation Nearly Done!
Tribun Dragon has been busy!
Since last we heard from him, the German translation of the Ultima 6 Project has gotten much nearer to completion; there are only graphics (buttons, mostly) and the spellbook left to translate.
Additionally, he has completed work on the German version of the project’s manual, which you’ll recall was a reworked version of the original Compendium manual from Ultima 6. Alongside this, he has also released the English version of the reworked cluebook for the game…which, yes, borrows its look, layout, and feel from the original Ultima 6 cluebook. You can find both books for download at the project entry.
Additionally, while he was working on all the above, Tribun was struck by the inspiration to create a prologue document for U6P. Borrowing heavily from the style of the Ultima 5 introduction, the prologue introduces the player to the Ultima 6 project by re-telling the imagery and events of the original game’s introductory sequence. It isn’t particularly lengthy, but it makes for engaging reading and handily introduces the series’ mythos.
English and German versions of the prologue are also available at the U6P project entry; grab one today and give it a read!
And finally, Tribun sends along a teaser image of the cover of the German translation of the Cluebook:
It really is an expert re-working of the original, is it not?
I always hated the Ultima VI box art (compared to the others’, anyhow), but that really is an awesome rendition there. Looks like an etching or woodcut and the [cross]hatching is great. Now if they could just tweak the Avatar’s head, neck and hair so he doesn’t look like such a pompous tool it’d be a masterpiece.
[edit] The foot on the chest was always in poor taste as well…very un-Avatar like.
I always thought the overwrought depiction was the point. I think we’re supposed to view the cover art from the Gargish perspective, seeing not so much an Avatar as an all-destroying False Prophet.
Glad you said that. I had a little thought that might be the case as I was posting it. Even so, not really what I want to look at as far as Ultima cover artwork is concerned. As in hanging it on my wall and such.
It is interesting though how the idea of the Avatar in Garriott’s mind went from a good natured, humble fellow to a real bastardization of everything we thought beautiful about the Eight Virtues when playing Ultima IV for the first time. A lesson perhaps on how everything must grow old and wither, or on the differences between the innocence and hopefulness projected by the lens of a child’s eye and perception marred by the realities and subsequent cynicism of adulthood. Israelis and Palestinians; all that shit where no one’s really the “good” guy.
While I really appreciate Garriott’s sense of moral complexity, ambiguity and impish irony, I do miss the days when it felt good to help someone and I didn’t have to worry about twisted retribution or being propelled along some ridiculous crusade against my better judgement. Ironically Ultima VI (though largely for its mechanics) is one of my favorites. VII was the first to really piss me off plot-wise…
On that note, now that I’m thinking about it, I think SotA is going to get a middling score. It’s trying to be everything to everyone (wasn’t there a song about that?). I think it’ll be pretty damn good, personally, but that it’ll receive scorn from both single-player and MMO fans for shortcomings in both areas. It’ll be inflammatory in that respect, with people wanting more on both sides. Hopefully the flip side will manifest and it’ll give both parties more than they want, perhaps leaving out the middle. Can’t wait in any case!
I help moderate its forums, and I have to say that at the moment, the demons of Greed and Envy are having it out therein. Over housing, of all damn things; there are Lords and Barons demanding to be able to monetize and take revenue-generating ownership of their buildings, and low-level backers demanding assured access to lots and housing once the game launches.
The game is trying to walk a razor edge between expedience and expectations, and it’s easy to worry that the team could well end up being pulled into a whirlwind of sideshows and distractions just to satisfy backer expectations.
All that being said, I think the game will be good. But I agree that there will be camps of variously unhappy folks that have a plethora of negative things to say about it.
But then, it would hardly be a Lord British game if people didn’t disagree over whether it was a masterpiece or a major flop. Garriott is somewhat Kubrick-esque in that respect.
Greed and Envy are the worst other than Wrath. I can see the higher level backers trying to control real estate prices for those who own no property; a second citizen class for second citizen economics. Soon players will be forming banks in-game, using their own private currency, and trying to control everything. Griefers will be “freedom fighters” or “criminals”, and the corporations will call them all “barbarians”.
At a certain point a studio needs to limit the interpretation of input from crowdfunding backers (if it gets too far from the design document) and make some hard but logical [game] mechanics-based decisions. At a certain point they just need to lay the smack down and finish that last 75% of the game, solely at their own direction and pace for polish.
For my two cents I’d like a simple and intuitive interface to real-time feedback from a world governed by systems such as the five senses and common states of feeling like hunger, pain, surprise, nausea, vertigo, ecstasy, and that sort of thing. Faux-Newtonian physics are better than what most games have, so a few tricks could be pulled there with ease (wall construction and collapses). I think Starr has control of the schedule (guessing there), so he’ll be in charge of the “super crazy getting shit done” phase, if it’s not already there.
Hail to thee!
First, I’d like to thank you for your very kind words about my attempt to live up to the world and atmosphere of Ultima with my humble translation efforts.
If I may take the chance and freedom, I’d like to correct some of the information you provided.
What is still missing are about 430 graphics (a few more than “only a couple”, I’m afraid), including the spellbook and the shop icons. While these sum up to some 90 half-transparent graphics I have quite some problems with, the main part will be the so-called ‘barks’: uterances from non-interactive NPCs and items such as chests.
As I am helping Tribun to translate the walktrough for his wonderful cluebook to German at the same time, work on the graphics has slowed down a bit for now, but the main focus will be on the spell book graphics and the shop icons first, as I think, the ‘barks’ are the ones of lesser importance. The text in the spell book however is also in German by now.
Whatsmore, I’d like to take the opportunity to invite all German speaking Ultima lovers to join the beta test. There is no signing up involved, just download the patch from my site and please do let me know of any mistakes and other flaws you may find. My mail address can be found on the download site linked above as well.
Thanks in advance,
Sir John